student loan debt, Fresh Start Program
by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2025

Student Loan Repayment Plan Applications Reopen Amid Legal Challenges​

Check with student loan lenders to determine the status of your account

The U.S. Department of Education has reopened online applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans following a temporary suspension prompted by a February court ruling that blocked parts of the Biden administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan.

The court’s injunction halted the implementation of the SAVE Plan and affected other IDR plans, leading to a pause in processing applications. During this period, borrowers faced challenges in accessing affordable repayment options, particularly those who had recently lost their job. 

In response, the Education Department has reinstated access to IDR plans, but it has not specified when the backlog of applications will be processed. Borrowers are advised to contact their loan servicer for updates on their application status. ​

The department has also clarified the distinction between “general forbearance” and “processing forbearance.” While general forbearance does not count toward loan forgiveness under IDR or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, processing forbearance, imposed during the application processing period, can count toward forgiveness for up to 60 days.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are currently in a general forbearance status, with no payments due and no interest accruing. However, this period does not count toward PSLF or IDR forgiveness. The Education Department expects loan servicers to resume accurate billing no earlier than September 2025, with payments due starting December 2025.

Disparities in Student Loan Debt Among Black Borrowers

Black borrowers face significant disparities in student loan debt compared to other racial groups. A 2023 survey found that 52% of Black borrowers carried at least $25,000 in student loan debt from their own education, compared to 41% of White borrowers and 37% of Hispanic borrowers.

This demographic also faces significant disparities in student loan debt and default rates compared to their white counterparts. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, 50% of Black borrowers have defaulted on a student loan, compared to 29% of White borrowers. Furthermore, 74% of Black borrowers who have defaulted have done so more than once, indicating challenges in maintaining repayment.

As the department navigates these legal and administrative challenges, borrowers are encouraged to stay informed about their repayment options and maintain communication with their loan servicer.

RELATED CONTENT: Freezing Federal Grants And Loans Creates Economic And Social Risks For Black Americans

Arrest, father, Paulsboro, student, highschool, argument, confrontation,Texas, sheriff, Freddie. Douglas
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2025

Retired Baltimore Police Officer Gets Life Sentence For Sexually Abusing Children At Ex-Wife’s Daycare Center 

Data revealed Weems looked at pornographic materials over 170 times between January and July 2022 while in close proximity to numerous elementary schools

James Weems, a retired Baltimore police officer, received a life sentence in prison after he was found guilty of sexually abusing children at his ex-wife’s daycare, WJZ News reports. 

Weems was found guilty of rape, sexual abuse of a minor and showing obscene matter to a minor back in November 2024.

He drove the van for Lil Kidz Kastle, a daycare in Owings Mills owned by his ex-wife, Shanteari Young. Court records reveal disturbing facts of the case, including how Weems admitted to looking at pornography while taking children to school but claimed that he never intentionally showed the children or touched anyone. 

An uncle of one of the victims, 10 years old at the time, testified during the trial that the victim’s family found pornography on her tablet and claimed “Mr. James” first showed it to her.

According to WUSA9, data found by an FBI agent who specializes in location data testified that Weems looked at pornographic materials over 170 times between January and July 2022 while in close proximity to numerous Baltimore-area elementary schools where he was scheduled to drop off and pick up children for the daycare.

Young testified that she remembered Weems paying special attention to one of the victims, often referring to her as his “little buddy” and “my little helper.”

The former daycare owner, who is serving time for allegedly shooting Weems in July 2022 after learning about the allegations, said the young victim was delayed for her age and mostly kept to herself and her sister while attending the daycare.

Assistant state’s attorney Zarena Sita said that victim’s like that are who predators are known to prey on.

One of the victim’s parents filed a civil lawsuit against Weems in March 2025 to hold him financially accountable, alleging negligence and false imprisonment. The litigation claimed the young victim has dealt with nightmares and headaches due to the abuse following the ordeal, which attorney Jonathan Schochor called “devastating.”

“These are lifelong injuries,” Schochor said. “This young lady confronted what happened in court. Whether she can emotionally confront what happened in her life remains to be seen.” 

However, Weems’ attorneys, Thomas Pavlinic and Thomas McDowell, claim the victim’s reluctance and contradictory testimony at times should have given the jurors enough reasonable doubt.

“I have empathy for [the alleged victim],” Pavlinic said. “I think she is a victim in this case. Not of Mr. Weems, but of the system.”

The life sentence isn’t the end of Weems’ legal troubles. He still faces an additional 23 charges related to the other alleged victims, including three more counts of second-degree rape. Young was also named in the civil suit, alleging the daycare should have been aware of Weems being “addicted to internet pornography and would habitually watch pornography every chance he had…”

RELATED CONTENT: Philly Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault Apparently Called Police First: ‘Why Y’all Doing That, Dude?’

mass shooting, FSU, FLorida State Univerrsity Shooting
by Keka Araújo

April 17, 2025

BREAKING: Multiple People Injured in Florida State University Shooting; Shelter-In-Place Ordered

In 2014, a gunman opened fire in the campus library, wounding three people before being killed by police

Multiple people were injured, one critically, in a shooting Thursday at Florida State University, prompting a campus-wide shelter-in-place order.  

FSU issued an alert shortly after noon telling individuals on its Tallahassee campus to “shelter in place” due to an “active shooter call at the Student Union.”  

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare confirmed to NPR via email that it had received six patients from the incident, “one in critical condition and the rest in serious condition.”

On X, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the situation: “Our prayers are with our FSU family, and state law enforcement is actively responding.”  

President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, said he had been briefed on the shooting, calling it “a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place.”

Reid Seybold, an FSU senior, recounted being in class when the shooting occurred. He described how someone barricaded the door until police arrived to escort everyone out. 

“I’m honestly terrified,” Seybold told WTSP. He also expressed concern for friends elsewhere on campus, but had since heard that they were safe.  

Another student called out leadership on the state and federal level.

“I’m gonna call on Governor Ron DeSantis [and] Donald Trump. This stuff keeps going on. We’re praying every day. Praying is good. Spirituality is good. But prayers don’t do much. It’s good for the soul, but is this still happening? I think it is. So we need to make some gun reforms.”

The university advised students to avoid the Tallahassee campus and canceled all “classes and business operations” through Friday. Later, FSU extended the cancellations to include all “athletics home events” through Sunday.  

This is not the first shooting incident at the university. In 2014, a gunman opened fire in the campus library, wounding three people before being killed by police.

Founded in 1851, Florida State University has an enrollment of 45,000 students and employs approximately 6,000 faculty and staff members.  

More information will be provided as this story develops.

RELATED CONTENT: 20-Year-Old Man Arrested After Money Dispute Leads To Alleged Double Murder

Over 300 Female Physician Assistants Sue Michigan Medicine, Claiming Wage Discrimination
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2025

Over 300 Female Physician Assistants Sue Michigan Medicine, Claiming Wage Discrimination

The plaintiffs claim UM knew about this disparity for years but failed to act on it

More than 300 current and former female physician assistants (PAs) have sued the health system affiliated with the University of Michigan (UM), Michigan Medicine, over allegations of wage discrimination.

In the lawsuit, filed April 15, current PA Christine Oldenburg-McGee was named the plaintiff as she brought the lawsuit forward on behalf of herself and other colleagues.

The group was allegedly paid $9,000 less per year on average than their male counterparts doing the same amount of work. The president of the United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine (UPAMM) union, Oldenburg-McGee said the systemic and long-standing gender-based pay disparities violate Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) as well as other state and federal laws.

“This case could have been avoided with action years ago,” the PAs’ attorney Sarah Prescott said in a statement, according to MLive. “Instead, our clients have waited long enough. It’s time for accountability.”

The plaintiffs claim that UM was aware of this disparity for years but failed to address it, instead negotiating a contract in 2021 that “rather entrenched it further” and perpetuated the wage gap.

“Despite the UM Defendants’ knowledge of the gender wage gap, and despite expressions of intentions to address the disparity, the UM Defendants have for years failed and refused to correct for it,” the suit read.  

The defendants in this lawsuit are the University of Michigan Board of Regents, the University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, and the University of Michigan Medical School. Some executives named include Dr. David Miller, Jovita Thomas-Williams, and Hakim Berry, as well as Dr. David Miller, the CEO, who allegedly exercised policymaking oversight and managerial control over Michigan Medicine during the specified periods listed in the suit. 

The case, filed in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, is expected to move forward as a certified class action under Michigan Court Rule 3.501.

The plaintiffs seek not only back pay and related retirement losses but exemplary and punitive damages to deter future violations.

“This case is about equal pay for equal work – nothing more, and certainly nothing less,” Prescott said. “These women are highly trained medical professionals. They make the system itself operable, and they deserve to be compensated fairly and equitably.”

RELATED CONTENT: Gimme The Loot! Texas UPS Employee’s $200K Luxury Theft Ring Lands Him In Lockup

Gen Z, credit, credit cards
by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2025

DOGE Deactivates 200K Federal Credit Cards

DOGE claims to have found thousands of 'unused or unneeded' federal credit cards

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has deactivated more than 200,000 federal credit cards across 16 agencies as part of an initiative to minimize government spending.

The move follows an audit that DOGE claims identified numerous unused or unnecessary cards.​ According to to agency, 4.6 million federal credit cards have been issued. After seven weeks of investigation the entity has identified the “unneeded” cards.

The Department of the Interior had the highest number of cancellations, with nearly 20,000 purchase cards and 40,000 travel cards deactivated. The Department of Health and Human Services followed, with over 43,700 travel cards and 2,235 purchase cards canceled.

Elon Musk, who is overseeing DOGE, expressed concerns about excessive federal spending. He emphasized the need for continued efforts to streamline government operations.

The figures given by DOGE may not be accurate as the agency has been called out for false findings and misrepresented figures.

Initially, DOGE claimed to have saved $55 billion through various cost-cutting measures. However, investigations have uncovered substantial errors in these figures, Axios reported. In one instance there was a contract with ICE, which DOGE reported as an $8 billion cancellation. In reality, the contract was valued at $8 million, with $3.8 million already expended, resulting in actual savings of only $4.2 million.

Further analysis revealed that DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts,” intended to document savings, included numerous discrepancies. Many contracts were double or triple-counted, and some were listed despite having already expired or canceled prior to DOGE’s involvement. 

Critics argue that DOGE’s approach may lead to increased costs in the long term. For instance, canceling bulk purchase contracts can result in the loss of negotiated discounts, potentially raising expenses if services or products are needed later.

Lawmakers are now calling for transparency in DOGE operations in an effort to mitigate the harm done under the guise of efficiency.

RELATED CONTENT: DOGE Pushes Agencies To Turn Over Data To Find Undocumented Immigrants

Gayle King, CBS News, new deal, morning show
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2025

Gayle King ‘Very Disappointed’ By Backlash Over Blue Origin’s All-Women Spaceflight

Gayle King is responding to criticism over the all-woman Blue Origin spaceflight she took part in.

Gayle King addresses the backlash she and her fellow Blue Origin passengers have faced following their brief spaceflight on April 14.

The CBS Mornings anchor spoke out during an April 16 interview with ET, defending the all-women spaceflight she joined alongside Katy Perry and explaining why she is “very disappointed and very saddened” by the fallout. The celebrity-filled mission, supported by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, has drawn criticism from several, including stars like Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde, and Olivia Munn—but King believes much of it stems from a lack of understanding and research.

“This is what bothers me because I’ve certainly read some of the things online, coming from people that I know, that I like, that I consider friends,” King said about the famous faces criticizing the spaceflight. “And this is what I would say to that. Space is not an either-or. It’s a both-and because you do something in space, doesn’t mean you’re taking anything away from Earth.”

The morning news host offered her explanation of how Bezos is reportedly investing his billion-dollar net worth into when it comes to space exploration, and according to King, it’s to make our planet better.

“What you’re doing in space is trying to make things better here on Earth,” she said. “What Blue Origin wants to do is take the waste here and figure out a way to put it in space to make our planet cleaner.”

King also pushed back against those downplaying the 11-minute journey she took with Perry, Lauren Sánchez (Bezos’ fiancée), Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn, insisting it was more than just a “ride” and should be recognized as a legitimate spaceflight.

“Please don’t call it a ride. That is not a friggin’ ride,” King quipped. “Whenever a man goes up, you have never said to an astronaut, ‘Boy, what a ride.’ We duplicated the same trajectory that Alan Shepard did back in the day, pretty much. No one called that a ride. It was called a flight. It was called a journey.”

She continued, “Because a ride implies that it’s something frivolous or something that’s lighthearted. There was nothing frivolous about what we did and the machine that we were on and what it took for the people to get that machine up and running, to get us up and get us back down safely.”

At the end of the day, King is proud of what she achieved and sees the mission as a trailblazing moment—one that she hopes will inspire young girls watching to dream bigger.

“What it’s doing to inspire other women and young girls, please don’t ignore that,” she said. “I’ve had so many women and young girls reach out to me, and men too, by the way, men too, that say, ‘Wow, I never thought I could do that, but I see you doing it’ at this stage of my life. Who would have thunk it? Not me.”

RELATED CONTENT: Oprah Winfrey Down Bad Due To ‘Serious’ Stomach Flu, Gayle King Reveals

DoorDash, doordash, tips, delivery, driver, shooting, bullets
by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2025

Near-Death Delivery: DoorDash Driver’s Close Call Caught On Doorbell Camera

DoorDash drivers are facing increasing danger.

A shocking video from a doorbell camera shows a DoorDash delivery driver narrowly avoiding gunfire during a recent delivery.

In the footage, the unnamed worker is seen placing an order at a customer’s doorstep. Moments later, the sound of gunshots is heard, prompting the driver to quickly retreat from the camera’s view.

The video then cuts to show a bullet lodged in the exact spot where the delivery driver had been standing. The driver was reportedly wearing a shirt that read, “God Got Me,” a detail some have called chilling in light of how close he came to being struck.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as delivery drivers face increasing danger on the job.

Aaron Giles, a 38-year-old delivery driver, was tragically shot and killed while making a delivery in Tallahassee, Florida, in March 2025. The incident occurred during his routine delivery route, leaving his family in shock and mourning.​

Giles was known for his dedication to his work and his family. Following his untimely death, his widow, Alisha Giles, spoke to the Tallahassee Democrat about the effects of the tragedy on her family.

“We both just wanted better for our family and to build up a foundation,” said Alisha, a team lead for Amazon in Tallahassee. “I’m just trying to adjust from wanting something with someone for so long, to now it’s being changed, and it’s not by choice.”

Alisha initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support their children. The campaign has garnered attention and support from community members who remember Giles as a hardworking individual committed to providing for his loved ones.

“This horrible tragedy not only affected an entire family forever, but also became another example of the dangers of gun violence and the destruction it leaves behind,” she wrote on the fundraiser’s website.​

Local authorities are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made as of yet. The community continues to demand justice and enhanced safety measures for delivery drivers in the area.​

RELATED CONTENT: ATL Rapper OG Maco Dies Of Gunshot Wound To the Head

Judge Glenda Hatchett, Black maternal health,Black women
by Ida Harris

April 17, 2025

Judge Glenda Hatchett Champions Fight Against Black Maternal Mortality

Judge Hatchett lost her daughter Kira nine years ago after she delivered a second child through a scheduled cesarean section.

On a morning just days before Black Maternal Health Week, Judge Glenda Hatchett met with BLACK ENTERPRISE at a neighborhood staple: Gocha’s Breakfast Bar, a Black woman-owned breakfast and brunch cafe in the heart of Southwest Atlanta, not far from the Collier Heights community Hatchett was raised in. She is poised, spry, and owns a sense of urgency. She is every bit the fabulous and fierce judge you might be familiar with from Court TV.

Gavel aside, Hatchett pulls no punches when it comes to Black maternal health. Hatchett is not only on a mission to bring awareness to the epidemic that impacts Black women and birthing people at disparate rates, she is relentless in the pursuit to hold medical institutions and practitioners accountable for slights in obstetric care provided to the Black maternal demographic. Hatchett took up this initiative when her family was directly affected. 

She lost her daughter Kira nine years ago after she delivered a second child through a scheduled cesarean section. The 39-year-old mother, who was healthy with no underlying illnesses or conditions that might complicate pregnancy, was “butchered” during the standard procedure—and became the victim of giving birth while Black. 

“The autopsy showed that she was butchered,” Hatchett tells BE. “He butchered her and in the process just lacerated her insides, and if they had done the CT scan at 6 o’clock when it was ordered. She would be alive if they had kept monitoring her and seeing that she was bleeding.”

Hatchett continues, “All the medical experts who reviewed her medical records don’t understand how she lived as long as she lived…I think it was her sheer determination. They did not get her back into the OR until midnight, and at that time, they found liters of blood in her abdomen. She had bled out. She coded, and they brought her back. The second time, she was gone. This was totally preventable.”

Hatchett had not always been privy to the statistics around Black maternal mortality or the negligence women encounter during labor and delivery. On its face, cases like Kira’s might fall under medical malpractice, but there’s far more to consider: Kira was one of six women in lawsuits; the physician who performed the fatal C-section did not lose his license; Kira was a Black woman. These things mattered—and as a practicing attorney, Hatchett decided she needed to address Black maternal mortality with a more nuanced legal approach. 

“I am taking on these cases now all over the country,” Hatchett tells BE. “We can never bring all of these mothers back. These children will never hug their mothers.” 

“Three to four times more likely than Black and Brown women to die than white women,” she adds. “Well, none of them should be dying if it were preventable, right? Black women are catching the brunt of this. There is a disparity in the treatment of Black women in these hospitals. That is not only a malpractice practice issue—it is a civil rights issue, and that is exactly how we got to look at this.”

While there’s been an overall decline in maternal mortality rates across the U.S. to the tune of slightly over 10 percent according to statistics released by the CDC in 2023, pregnancy-related deaths are proportionately higher for Black women compared to white women and other ethnic groups of women. Findings from the National Vital Statistics System study revealed that for every 100,000 live births, Black women succumb to maternal death 50.3 times. The numbers are stark in comparison, dropping significantly for white women at 14.5, Latin women at 12.4, and Asian women at 11. 

The Trump administration’s freeze on Title 10 funding in 20 states will further impact Black maternal health. Title 10 funds cover reproductive health care, including everything from sexually transmitted infections to abortion services. Hatchett says it will be “more difficult for women to make choices” about abortion, while others might be forced to give birth, albeit putting their own lives at risk. 

“Right here in the state of Georgia, a young woman who died because she could not get the services because there was a question about whether it was medically needed or legal … and in the process of all of that past, she died,” Hatchett says. 

Despite the improvement in the number of women dying in childbirth, Hatchett expects things will worsen, particularly when the loss of Medicaid enters the equation. 

“If we’re talking about changes to Medicaid … that’s going to affect predominantly low-income communities and Black ones.” 

Hatchett is no stranger to litigating on behalf of vulnerable communities. Unbeknownst to many, it was Hatchett who represented Philando Castile, who was killed by a Minnesota police officer in front of his girlfriend and daughter in July 2016 after a traffic stop. She currently represents clients involved in catastrophic accidents and events. 

Judge Glenda Hatchett shows no signs of slowing down in the pursuit to protect the people. There’s more on the horizon.

RELATED CONTENT: Dr. Angela Reddix Celebrates The Mustard Seed Vision During International Black Women’s History Month 

judge, dei, trump
by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2025

Judge Joe Brown Drops Nugget Regarding Karmelo Anthony’s Bail Reduction

Judge Joe Brown analyzes Karmelo Anthony case thus far and gives his expert opinion.

Judge Joe Brown is weighing in on the case of Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old who was arrested for murder. 

The former television judge sat down with YouTube creator TheRealDana to discuss the circumstances surrounding Anthony’s arrest and the legal implications of the case.

According to Brown, if Anthony were assaulted in the commission of a robbery, then he would be considered a victim.

“He’s not a perpetrator,” Brown said in the interview. “He’s a victim of a robbery. You can’t hold him accountable for the conduct of somebody else.”

Judge Brown also criticized the bond set for Anthony, arguing it was unjust. He explained that bail is not intended to reflect public opinion or punishment, but rather exists solely to ensure a defendant’s return to court.

“If a defendant has no prior record, and there’s no flight risk, then the law says there should be a reasonable bond set,” Brown said. “That young man should be awaiting trial outside of jail.”

Anthony was initially given a $1 million bond. Supporters have since rallied to help his family raise funds. His next court date has not been announced yet.

On April 2, 2025, 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after allegedly fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. According to witness accounts and police reports, the altercation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move from an area designated for Metcalf’s team. The situation escalated, and Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf once in the chest. Metcalf died at the scene, reportedly in the arms of his twin brother.

Anthony claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Metcalf had grabbed him during the dispute. He was initially held on a $1 million bond, which was later reduced to $250,000. Following the bond reduction, Anthony was released on house arrest, subject to conditions that included wearing an ankle monitor and obtaining judicial permission before leaving home. ​

The case has garnered significant public attention, and fundraisers have been established for both families. Supporters of Anthony have raised over $431,000 for his legal defense, while a separate fundraiser in memory of Metcalf has collected over $500,000. 

As the investigation continues, the case will be presented to a grand jury for consideration. Due to Anthony’s age, he is not eligible for the death penalty or life without parole, in accordance with a 2005 Supreme Court ruling.

RELATED CONTENT: Karmelo Anthony’s Lawyer Wants $1M Bond Lowered, Arguing Self-Defense In Austin Metcalf Murder Case

school, drill, shooting, Dallas,,Tracy Haynes, school shooting,
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2025

Video Of Alleged Dallas School Shooter Emerges; 17-Year-Old Claims, ‘I Had To Do It’

The suspect turned himself in and is currently in custody

A video has emerged on social media of suspected high school shooter Tracy Haynes before Dallas police officers arrested the 17-year-old for his alleged role in the shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School on April 15.

The video clip, posted on Instagram by beezytvmedia, shows the suspect seemingly admitting to what he had just done as he is seen driving. Haynes was charged with aggravated assault and mass shooting. He is currently being held in custody as his bail is set at $600,000. He is accused of shooting three students inside the school.

In the video, he is seen explaining why the action took place at Wilmer-Hutchins, saying he was threatened and that he was told that he was going to be killed, and he wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

“N**ga told me he was gonna kill me, all these n**gas told me they was gonna kill me, look what happened.”

He then says he loved various family members and the person “behind the camera” who was filming.

“I want everybody to know I love them.”

Haynes reportedly expressed that he knows what he did was wrong, and he didn’t want to do it, but he “had to do it” and he’d be “damned if one of us get buried again. I’m tired of us getting buried and nobody doing s**t about it.”

The teen was emotional, explaining that his mother and grandmother were gone, and that he’d rather everyone see him in jail than “dead in the ground.”

The video ends with him saying, “I love y’all!”

“17 year old #TracyHaynes speaks out after the viral mass shooting that took place yesterday at #WilmerHutchins high school in #Dallas ; he turned himself in last night.

“I won’t let yall k*ll me, I’m sick of my people getting buried!” 🙏💔”

The three students who were shot all survived and ranged in age from 15 to 18. There was another student who wasn’t shot but suffered a “musculoskeletal injury to the lower body.”

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